Interesting that several people suggest he is hiding something or that he is a lost cause, and that no one has actually thought about the fact that he admits to being "broken" as he has called himself.

I went through an incredibly tough break up several years ago, which left me quite "broken" as a result of many disappointments as the path I had laid out in front of me with my partner , the big life plans, the happily ever after that we both wanted just didn't come together. In the months following my break up, I did feel "broken" , and was not ready to share my life emotionally or intimately with anyone else for quite some time. The possibility for starting new relationships was there , but I shunned them because I did not wish to subject another person to suffer the pile of baggage I was carrying over from my previous heart break. Also the idea of meaningless rebound sex, which in my past break ups I had often sought comfort in, just seemed wrong to me at the time.

What I am trying to say is that if in fact you two care for each other , and the mutual attraction is there , the possibility for love is there , then give it some time. To rush into something too soon after a break up , can be very hard emotionally for a person when they are not mentally ready to share their life with someone new . It does not mean they do not care for you , it does not take away from what you can offer them or make the potential of your getting together any less. It just means they are not ready to start a new relationship with someone new , and that they need time to heal. I personally thing that it is unfair to assume someone is hiding something , or not telling you the truth as some may have suggested, just because he is not ready to move into sharing his life with someone else so soon after a break up. Perhaps he cares for you enough, respects you enough that he does not wish to subject you to being the target of his resentment, or subject you to having to suffer through his possibly negative behavior, that is lingering as a result of his former partner's treatment of him.

Break ups can be tough , they leave us questioning ourselves, when we find that something we have directed all of our energy towards has fallen apart . They leave us in a time of re-invention , rediscovery of ourselves where we need to heal and find our own stability on shaky legs. This takes time, and many people need to do this , to be able to fully enjoy a partnership with someone new. If the love is there , and it is real, then waiting for it should not be a problem, and will lead into something much more stable once you do eventually get together , as both of you are entering that relationship healed and not "broken".

Please understand I am only basing my observation on what I have read in this thread , and projecting my own experiences into giving you my perspective on this matter , and in no way mean to come across as insulting or negative towards any of the folks who have answered your original question.