Your story is very similar to mine, but it was unlocked even further when I was diagnosed with ADHD as an adult at 38 years old, and began stimulant medication. I feel goosebumps from music, I’m much more likely to cry (in a good way I think)
Overall my ability to empathize still feels a little dulled sometimes. But it's hard to tell since you can't really compare it directly to another's experience, only observe how others seem to react... Maybe in its own way this is a bit of a "What is it like to be a bat?" situation.