I (28M) have been avoiding my next door neighbor (26F) for over a year.

She introduced herself to me last winter by knocking on my door and asking me for help. I asked her out once before a few months later and she didn't go but she started being really nice and friendly after that and I thought she pitied me so I started avoiding her. Then later she seemed to want my attention again and she was even nicer and more open when she approached me, but I was having some issues and I was a bit confused by her behavior so I just kept avoiding her, then eventually came back and tried again but came on too strong and she set some boundaries, but I thought she was just rejecting me so I just went back to avoiding her, but it became a habit that has lasted for 9 months now. So we haven't talked for that long, I mean we talk but not really it's' just pretending if that makes sense. I don't know if I am allowed to talk to her or if she wants to talk to me so it just stays like that. I am high sick insecure and unemployed and she has her own values and context that are distinct and related to how she is dealing with the situation, and in hindsight I should have approached her very differently than I did, and I should have never stopped talking to her and avoiding her. She has tried to make small talk a few times, and I try to get the courage to talk to her as well, but its like theres this wall, and its easier to just stay on the other side for both of us. Does that make sense? What can I do? (besides, the obvious, just talking to her...)