diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 51e62b4..3ec0f84 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ Run the SQL script `sql/create_database.sql`. This will set up an empty database
 # API
 
 ```
+//NOTE: GET will return null if a specific article can't be found
 //NOTE: you can add a "limit" query parameter to change the default limit
 GET /news?limit=10
 
diff --git a/server/news/query.js b/server/news/query.js
index 705e77c..22cc216 100644
--- a/server/news/query.js
+++ b/server/news/query.js
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+const { Op } = require('sequelize');
 const { articles } = require('../database/models');
 
 //the query function that can be reused
@@ -8,13 +9,14 @@ const query = (ascending, titlesOnly) => async (req, res) => {
 			attributes: [
 				'index', 'title', 'author', ...(!titlesOnly ? ['body', 'edits'] : [])
 			],
-			order: [
-				['index', ascending ? 'ASC' : 'DESC']
-			],
-			offset: parseInt(req.query.id) || 0,
-			limit: 1
+			where: {
+				index: {
+					[Op.eq]: ascending ? parseInt(req.params.id) : (await articles.max('index')) - parseInt(req.params.id) + 1
+				}
+			}
 		});
 
+		//returns null if failed to find
 		return res.status(200).json(result);
 	}
 
@@ -34,4 +36,4 @@ const query = (ascending, titlesOnly) => async (req, res) => {
 	}
 };
 
-module.exports = query;
\ No newline at end of file
+module.exports = query;